Generally speaking, a British is widely
regarded as a quiet, shy and conservative person who is{{U}} (21)
{{/U}}only among those with whom he is acquainted. When a stranger is at
present, he often seems nervous,{{U}} (22) {{/U}}embarrassed. You have
to take a commuter train any morning or evening to {{U}}(23) {{/U}}the
truth of this. Serious-looking businessmen and women sit reading their
newspapers or dozing in a comer; hardly anybody talks, since to do so would be
considered quite offensive. {{U}} (24) {{/U}}, there is
an unwritten but clearly understood code of behavior which,{{U}} (25)
{{/U}}broken, makes the offender immediately the object of{{U}} (26)
{{/U}}. It has been known as a fact that a British has a{{U}}
(27) {{/U}}for the discussion of their weather and that, if given a
chance, he will talk about it{{U}} (28) {{/U}}. Some people argue that
it is because the British weather seldom{{U}} (29) {{/U}}forecast and
hence becomes a source of interest and{{U}} (30) {{/U}}to everyone. This
may be so.{{U}} (31) {{/U}}a British cannot have much{{U}} (32)
{{/U}}in the weathermen, who, alter promising fine, sunny weather for the
following day, are often proved wrong{{U}} (33) {{/U}}a cloud over the
Atlantic brings rainy weather to all districts! The man in the street seems to
be as accurate -- or as inaccurate -- as the weathermen in his{{U}} (34)
{{/U}}. Foreigners may be surprised at the number of
references{{U}} (35) {{/U}}weather that the British make to each other
in the course of a single day. Very often conversational greetings are{{U}}
(36) {{/U}}by comments on the weather. "Nice day, isn't it?"
"Beautiful day!" may well be heard instead of "Good morning, how are you?"{{U}}
(37) {{/U}}the foreigner may consider this exaggerated and comic, it
is worthwhile pointing out that it could be used to his advantage.{{U}} (38)
{{/U}}he wants to start a conversation with a British but is{{U}} (39)
{{/U}}to know where to begin, he could do well to mention the state of the
weather. It is a sale subject which will{{U}} (40) {{/U}}an answer from
even the most reserved of the British.